Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano gets gatorade dump over him after the Scarlett Knights defeated the Cyclones at the 2011 New Era Pinstripe Bowl. (N.Y. Post: Paul J. Bereswill)

For a team that had exceeded all expectations — winning eight games after being pegged for a second straight last-place Big East finish — Rutgers had much to atone for.

They had spent over a month seething over a loss to UConn in the regular-season finale, one that cost them a share of their first league crown and left a sour taste in their mouths.

But the Scarlet Knights washed it away with a 27-13 win in yesterday’s Pinstripe Bowl, redemption in front of 38,328 at Yankee Stadium that assuaged the bitterness of that collapse and ensured a sweet New Year’s Eve.

“I’m really proud of our kids,’’ coach Greg Schiano, whose Scarlet Knights (9-4) bounced back from a 4-8 season to win their nation-leading fifth straight bowl game. “That [UConn loss] hit me bad. What was at stake, that one really took its toll. But I’m proud of the way that everybody felt that way. They couldn’t wait to play in a football game … and you could see the focus.’’

You could see it in a team that forced three turnovers and blocked its ninth kick, and in junior Mohamed Sanu — undecided if he’s coming back for his senior season — catching six passes for 62 yards to break Rutgers’ career receptions mark. You also could see it in the offensive line of Desmond Wynn, Betim Bujari, Caleb Ruch, Art Forst and Kaleb Johnson — playing together for the first time — not allowing a sack and opening holes for running back Jawan Jamison.

You also could see it in Jamison, a freshman, carrying the ball 27 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns to carry away the MVP trophy. Moments after he hoisted that piece of hardward, Schiano did the same with the George M. Steinbrenner III Trophy, then grabbed the microphone and saluted the man the win was dedicated to: Eric LeGrand.

“Big E! That one’s for you!” Schiano shouted toward LeGrand, who has been in a wheelchair since being paralyzed last year against Army, after which Rutgers lost its final five games. But he saw this win, in which Rutgers fell behind 6-0 before running off 20 unanswered against Iowa State (6-7), which lost three straight after beating No. 2 Oklahoma State.

“We took the ball away three times and didn’t give it away — that’s how we win,’’ said Schiano, who relied heavily on Jamison. “Coach [Chris] Hewitt came to me at the half and said, ‘I don’t think they can stop this kid.’ I said, ‘Then let’s run him.’ ”

They did just that, getting a one-yard touchdown plunge and — after Wayne Warren’s sack and forced fumble that Scott Vallone returned to the Cyclones 4 — a 12-yard touchdown on which Jamison faked and stiff-armed Jacques Washington to the ground to put Rutgers ahead, 17-6.

“The mindset was to come in and establish a run,’’ Jamison said . “We didn’t get much done in the UConn game. I had to come out and redeem myself.’’

Iowa State’s Jeff Woody scored to cut the lead to 20-13, but Chas Dodd — who split time with Gary Nova — hit wide receiver Brandon Coleman on an 86-yard touchdown, the 6-foot-6 freshman outjumping 5-foot-7 Jeremy Reeves and racing in for a 27-13 lead that sealed it.

“We had a bad taste,’’ said linebacker Khaseem Greene, who was carted off with an ankle injury. “But we came out and got it out.’’